Floating dry-dock.



Patented Oct. 7, I902.

A. 0,. CUNNINGHAM.

FLOATING DRY DOCK.

Application filed Mar. 28, 1902.)

[No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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I ITZ1/6ILZO)? No. 7l0,765. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

A. C. CUNNINGHAM.

FLOATING DRY DOCK.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1902.)

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ANDREIV CHASE CUNNINGHAM, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

From-me Dav-noes.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 710,765, dated October 7, 1902.

Application filed March 28,1902. Serial No. 100,470. (No model.)

To all 207mm, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW CHASE CUN- NINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Dry-Docks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object in view is primarily to provide a construction of floating dock that will permit the dry docking of the dock itself when required for inspection, repairs, or other purose.

A further object is to provide a floating dock that may be lengthened or shortened, as desired, or may be separated into two or more smaller docks, each complete in itself, without alteration or cutting of any part of the permanent structure.

These objects are obtained, first, by build ing the dock to consist of a plurality of sections, each section being complete in itself and independent of the others and all of said sections having integral sides and bottom and having the same vertical cross-section; second, by providing each of these sections at the ends with fastening devices so constructed and positioned that when the sections are placed end for end the fastening devices on adjacent sections will match, so that the sections are interchangeable with each other.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a floating dock constructed according to my invention in three sections, the first figure showing one of the sections self-docked between two floating sections, and the second figure showing one of the end sections selfdocked. Fig. is a top plan view of the complete dock, showing the means for and manner of securing the sections togethern, Fig. 4c is an end view of the complete dock or of one of the sections. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary plan views showing different specific forms of devices for securing the sections together, and Fig. 7 is a view showing in elevation an adjunct that may be applied to the fastening devices shown in either of the other figures.

Referring to the views, it will be seen that the dock is built up in sections a a a. There may be any number of these sections, but three will probably be found to answer most requirements. Each section is provided with integral sides I) b and bottom 0, and all the sections are alike in cross-sectional area, so that when connected together they make up one complete structure that is divided into a number (in this instance three) of smaller structures. It is not essential that all the sections should be of the same length, but it is necessary that they should be of the same cross-section, so that when alined end to end they will present unbroken sides and bottom, as indicated in'Fig. 3. Each of the sections is provided with fastening devices at both ends, whereby it may be secured to an adjacent section, and the fastening devices of all the sections are so constructed and positioned that the sections are interchangeable-that is to say, either end of any section will flt either end of any other section.

The invention is not limited to any particular fastening devices; but it is believed to comprehend, broadly, all devices whereby the sections may be secured together in the manner just described.

' Three specific forms of fastening devices are illustrated in the drawings. As shown in the first four figures, they consist of flanges (preferably angle-irons) d, which extend vertically along the upright sides Z) b, as shown in Fig. 4, and project laterally therefrom, as best shown in Fig. 3, so that when the sections are brought together end to end the flat faces of the flanges will fit against each other. It is not essential that these flanges should be on both the inner and outer edges of the upright sides, as shown in Figs. 3 and a, but it is advisable to have them so for strength and rigidity of construction. These flanges are provided throughout their length with perforations e to receive bolts, screws, pins, or any other sort of detachable fastenings, and the perforations in the flanges of one section of the dock are preferably spaced and positioned so that when the sections are brought together, as shown in Fig. 3, they will match. In these views the meeting faces of the flanges stand transversely to the upright sides of the sections; but in Fig. 5 the same flanges, which are here denoted d, are shown extending lengthwise the sides and do not fit flat against each other, as in the arrangement first described. In the form shown in Fig. 5, however, it is necessary to employ connecting-platesff, and the removable bolts 9 g pass through holes in these plates into and through holes in the flanges d (1, that are in all respects like the perforations in the flanges (Z of the first four figures.

In Fig. (3 I show a further modification in the arrangement and construction .of the flanges. In this figure the same angle-flanges are employed that are shown in Fig. 3; but instead of securing them directly to the side walls of the uprights Z; I) they are bolted or otherwise firmly secured to plates (Z d that are fastened to the uprights in the same way that the plates d d of Fig. 5 are fastened, and the flat faces of transverse parts of the flanges come together, as already described.

In both forms of fastening devices shown in Figs. 5 and 6 there is necessarily lefta narrow space between the ends of adjacent sections of the dock when they are fastened together. This i however, in no way objectionable, and any of the arrangements is entirely practicable.

It is to be noted of all the above-described fastening devices that they form positive locks and secure the sections together immovably; but as it is desirable when selfdocking or separating the sections to have a temporary connection that will yield slightly and allow one section to have a limited vertical movement with respect to the other I provide as an adjunct to the positively-lock ing devices a frictional fastening arrangement consisting of elongated slot-s h h, which run lengthwise the flanges on the inner or outersides of the rows of holes e. Bolts and nuts, pins, collars, or other removable fastenings are secured in these slots, thereby holding them close together, but at the same time permitting a limited vertical movement be tween them. The advantage of this arrangement will be apparent when it is understood that owing to unavoidable variations in the weight of the several sections there will freq uently be slight differences in the water-line level at: which they will float, and when separating two sections having different flotation there is liability of the last two or three bolts being sheared off by adjacent sections seeking their natural flotation. It is here that the auxiliary frictional locking devices find their greatest value, inasmuch as they reinforce the positive locking devices and hold the adjacent sections together sufficiently to overcome this tendency to seek their different levels until after all the positive lockingdevices have been removed.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the securingflanges on all the sections are preferably located above the normal water-line, the object of this arrangement being to keep them free from the corrosive action of the water as well as to have them where they are always accessible.

The invention is not concerned with the pipes, valves, or pumping machinery of the dock, and I have not, therefore, deemed it necessary to show any of the internal arrangements or operative parts. It is to be understood, however, that each section of the dock, as already described, is complete in itself and preferably has its own pumping machinery,

piping, and valves.

Such being the construction of my improved dock, the method of operation for self-docking is as follows: All sections of the dock are first brought to approximately the same flotation or water line, it not being necessary to pump any section completly dry or to any particular flotation-line, as is usual with most docks. Bolts are then placed in the elongated slots it of the flanges d and tightened up sufficiently to create sufficient friction between the flanges of adjacent sections to overcome any difference of flotation that may exist between the sections. The positive locking connections are then all removed, and the friction-bolts being then unscrewed the part of the dock that is to be self-docked is allowed to float free. The other sections of the dock are then sunk, and in this position-that is to say, one of the sections floating and the others submerged-the sections are secured together end to end,as already fully described. The sunken sections are then pumped out in theordinary manner and of course rise higher and higher, lifting the self-docking section with them, until finally the sections that were sunk rise high enough to lift the other section clear out of the water, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and2. This method of connection permits each section to occupy any position in the dock and also permits the addition or removal of one or more of the sections from the others or the separation of the dock into smaller docks, each consisting of one or more sections.

No fixed order of procedure or tilting is required with this construction of dock, and it is evident from the foregoing description and illustration that the section to be docked may be secured between other sections, as in Fig. l, or may be fastened at the end of the dock, as in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is .1. A floating dry-dock, comprising a plurality of independent sections, having integral sides and bottom, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, and all of said sections having fastening devices at their ends whereby they may be connected together end to end at different levels for self-docking.

2. A floating dry-dock having integral sides and bottom, and divided transverselyinto independent sections, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, and

all of said sections having fastening devices at their ends whereby they may be connected together end to end at different levels for self-docking and are interchangeable in position.

3. A floating dry-dock, comprising a plurality of independent sections, having integral sides and bottom, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, and all of said sections having a series of fas toning devices along the meeting edges of their vertical sides, the fastening devices on each section being like those on all the other sections in construction and position whereby they may be connected together end to end at different levels for self-docking.

4. A floating dry-dock, comprising a plurality of independent sections, having inte gral sides and bottom, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, and all of said sections having flanges extending along the edges of their vertical sides, the flanges on one section being constructed and positioned to mate with those on any of the other sections, when the sections are placed end to end, and detachable means for locking the flanges together and securing the sections to one another at different levels endwise in line with one another for self-docking.

5. A floating dry-dock, comprising a plurality of independent sections, having integral sides and bottom, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, and all of said sections having fastening devices at their ends whereby the sections may be secured together so as to prevent vertical movement, and independent fastening devices to hold the sections together with a capacity for limited vertical movement of one with respect to another when said first-named fastening devices are removed.

6. A floating dry-dock, comprising a plurality of independent sections, having integral sides and bottom, each section being of the same vertical cross-section as the others, all of said sections having positive fastening devices at their ends whereby they may be secured together, and said sections having also auxiliary fastening devices whereby they may be frictionally secured together to hold the same against vertical movement until the positive locking devices have all been removed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW CHASE CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

G. STYRLANDER, SvEN ANDERSON. 

